The band Folkehelsa believes that more artists should get involved politically through music. On their debut album "Evig OK" they sing about both loneliness and environmental challenges. - We believe that music can also help create change.
/ 21/06/2019 / Kristian DugstadPhoto above: Kamilla Kvamme
Name: Alexander, Hanna, Sunniva and Anna in the band Folkehelsa
Age: 28/29 year
Current with: Debut album Forever OK
TONO member since: 2015
Who is Folkehelsa? Tell us about the band?
Folkehelsa is four friends. Anna, Hanna, Sunniva and Alex. We have been playing together since 2013, writing songs together, and in May we finally released our debut album! We play together because we think it's fun, but also because we want to use music to say something about things we care about, such as climate and the environment.
You draw inspiration from a variety of musical genres. How did you find your sound?
Our sound is a result of our different backgrounds, and the instrumentation choices we have made. We found out early on that we did not want to be a guitar-driven band, and wanted to create a solid (rock) sound without electric guitar. So we have instead gone with fiddle and bass with lots of effects and distortion. The synth adds the electronic element that breaks with an otherwise very organic sound. We have also spent a lot of time jamming in the rehearsal room, and are actually very happy with long instrumental parts, which you can hear in some songs on the record. You could also say that we have not had any particular genre as an ideal for the music, but that it has arisen by itself based on the preferences and opportunities we have had.
You use elements from folk music, among other things. How do you experience working with traditional music in a modern context?
In the beginning we wanted to be a folk-electronica band, but none of us are trained in folk music, and this genre has therefore become more of an inspiration than a supporting element in our music. We often use some elements from folk music that we manage to incorporate into the music, it goes on melody lines and tonality in vocals and fiddle. In addition, we have three folk tunes on the record, two of which we have mixed together for the last song "Sol". There are several aspects of folk music that appeal to us. The old folk tunes have completely different traditions, formulations and tonal language, which a lot of modern music does not have. This adds something more to our music than what we could write ourselves.
What are the band members' musical backgrounds? Are you on the same wavelength or do you have different perspectives?
Anna is a musicologist, Sunniva is a music therapist, Hanna is a music teacher and Alexander is a lecturer and loves jazz. We have relatively different musical references, and together we like everything from Abba to hardcore, ska and folk songs. Hanna and Sunniva have also played in a post-rock band for several years, and they are perhaps a bit influenced by that. The fact that we have different tastes in music means that discussions can arise about how spring music should sound like. At the same time, it is perhaps this difference that helps create our particular sound, where several musical genres meet in a hodgepodge, without us necessarily needing to define what is what, or what it is.
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"Public health work is society's efforts to influence factors that directly or indirectly promote the population's health and well-being, prevent mental and somatic illness, injury or suffering, or that protect against health threats, and work towards a more even distribution of factors that directly or indirectly affect health." (taken from regjeringen.no. Does the Public Health Service carry out public health work?
On a low level, maybe? We believe music is good for your health, and we highlight topics like loneliness in a big city, navel gazing, and environmental challenges. We believe it would be good for public health with more community and less plastic in the ocean.
How does your music come about? Do you have a set process?
It varies, but often one of us comes up with an idea for a riff or a melody line, and then we work together from that and let the idea develop together. This way our music is colored by all of us. Sometimes we have discussed a topic we want to write about, and then Sunniva, Anna and Hanna often write the lyrics together. We also jam a lot in the band room, and record when something cool comes up.
You are known for your political lyrics. What inspires you to write?
We are a socially engaged band, and write about things that make us upset and frustrated, and things we want to shed light on. It could be politicians making bad choices. Scary ideologies where not all people are seen as equally valuable. Pictures of animals with stomachs full of plastic. The fact that many of us are unreflective and lack the power to act when it comes to changing the way we live – and for example, effortlessly buy clothes produced by textile workers under incredibly poor working conditions. We have a desire to make listeners reflect.
Their debut album "Evig OK" was released on May 31st of this year. Tell us about the album?
The album is the result of six years of songwriting, rehearsals and concerts. It was recorded in Lilleaker Folkets hus with Mads Johansen, and in a living room in Ekeberg by Erik Normann Sannes Aanonsen. Mads also mixed the album, and it was mastered by Christian Obermayer at Stype Audio. We wanted to get a lot of the live energy onto the album, and ended up producing it ourselves, with Mads as co-producer. He came up with a lot of good ideas, cool effects and a lot of distortion, and helped give the album a raw sound. The album was released and recorded with support from Plateselskapet No. 13, which is a fairly new Norwegian record label with a vision of promoting artists who want something with their music. We love the guys at the record label, who are some real enthusiasts, and who have really stood by us!
Listen to the album at the bottom of the article.
What are you working on now? What does the second half of 2019 bring for Public Health?
Now we are working towards a release concert on August 31st. We will have some guests and really try to create a good atmosphere at Mir in Oslo! We are also working on booking concerts and getting around the country with our music. We also hope to start making new material.
What is your career highlight so far?
Getting a record deal with Record Company No. 13 was a big highlight for us! Getting the opportunity to make an entire album of our own music, and spending time together in the studio, was a very exciting and nice experience. It was also cool to play at Popvenstre last year. We even got to share the stage with one of our favorite bands, Valkyrien!
Can you share your greatest musical experiences – together, or separately?
Oslo has several smaller stages that are fantastic for bands in the start-up phase. We have played at Mir and Maksitaksi in Oslo, where it has been just fun to be on stage, our friends have stood up front and sung along, and the atmosphere in the venue has given us a real kick!
Is there anything we should have asked you about?
Maybe it's important for artists and bands to get involved politically?
And what is the answer to that question?
Then the answer is, not surprisingly, yes! We believe that music can also help create change.